An example, I don't think that the concentration of economic activity in the South East UK makes them do insane own-goals like excavating train tunnels through farmers' fields to 'preserve' rural vistas.

If the UK had ordinary 'it's expensive to build things in built up areas' costs and outcomes I think the 'that's just the knowledge economy for ya' take would be more compelling. How could this sort of behavior *not* be reducing investment?